Gen. David Petraeus, the American commander in Iraq, has asked his bosses to consider pulling as many as 7,000 soldiers out of the country as early as September, the New York Times is reporting.

With Iraq slightly improving, analysts are quick to point out that it's not that Iraq has suddenly become safe -- it's that Afghanistan has become much more deadly.

Nine American soldiers were killed Sunday in another militant attack. More U.S. and allied soldiers were killed in Afghanistan than in Iraq in both May and June.

The U.S has already announced that more soldiers will be sent to the country's dangerous southern region of Kandahar, where Canadian troops are.

"This news today that the Americans are coming with more troops to the south is obviously something well received," Defence Minister Peter MacKay said in Nova Scotia Sunday.

Iraq's government has become more vocal that it is time for Americans to start moving out.

"We will have a huge farewell party for these combat battalions or brigades," Mowaffak Al Rubaie Iraqi National Security Adviser said in reference to the American presence.

Donald Daniel of Georgetown University told CTV Newsnet Sunday that the move "seems sensible" from the Pentagon's point of view.

But he said there will probably continue to be an American presence in Iraq for the foreseeable future.

Daniel said that the U.S. military is starting to "refocus" on Afghanistan.

"Unless they ratchet up their activities there, there is going to be very serious problems (in Afghanistan)," he said.

Politically, moving soldiers out of Iraq could be seen as a positive for both U.S. presidential candidates. Republican Sen. John McCain could point out that the 'surge' plan he backed worked, and that the situation is approving.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has long been an opponent of the war and has called for a gradual pullout of forces out of Iraq.

With a report from CTV's Joy Malbon